 Click Here to Search |
Messages Posted 14 December 1998 - 20 May
1999
You may search the entire Murnane Web Site.
Use the Search button below.
Looking for Australia – Tipperary Connection
For Honora and Mary Murnane and Nugents
I am looking for some help with this one as my sources have dried up. I cannot tie Honora in with any of the other Murnanes who emigrated to Victoria, Australia. Honora married James Nugent in Ballarat, Victoria, in 1857. Her parents are listed as William Murnane (farmer) and Brigit Corcoran and her place of birth as County Tipperary. I am trying to find a link between this Honora and Mary Murnane, who married John Nugent in Tipperary and migrated to Australia in 1853. Mary Murnane's death certificate has been completed incorrectly so I cannot confirm that not only were John And James Nugent were brothers but that Mary and Honora were sisters. I would appreciate if anybody has any information that could help me make a connection and pinpoint a place of birth for these Murnanes. They were prolific in producing progeny and these progeny were all baptized in the Catholic church.
Anne Sherrard
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
sherrard@melbpc.org.au
20 May 1999
(Anne,
Thanks for your note. I'll forward it to Paul Murnane in Sydney, and I will post it on our Bulletin Board this week. Yours is an interesting connection as my great-great-grandfather was William Murnane (or Marnane) and he MAY have been married to a Brigit Corcoran. And they were from Tipperary. My great-grandfather, Edmond, was born in 1817 and was married in 1858, certainly a contemporary of Honora. Although I don't know of Edmond's sisters, I have never heard from anyone in Tipperary that one of his sisters went to Australia. Also don't know if there were Nugents in their part of Tipperary, but I will try to learn that.
Very interesting!
--Ed Murnane)
And a Later Message From Anne...
Neither Paul Murnane in Sydney nor Joan Findlayson in Melbourne could fit my Murnanes into any of the known Australian families. Joan put me into contact with someone who is related and she seemed to think that Mary Murnane did come from Bansha, but because of the errors on the death certificate, we could not be sure of her origins and the only clue might be that Honora was a sister to Mary, and came out later to join the family in Ballarat where she met John's brother and they married. However this is only speculation, and a slight hope that through Honora I might be able to take the family one step further back. I would be fascinated to hear about this "marriage" of William Murnane to Brigit Corcoran as I could not fit your William Murnane into my facts.
Mary Murnane was my great-great-grandmother (maternal). When John and Mary migrated to Australia, they bought with them five daughters; their only son at that time had died in Ireland. As you can imagine I would dearly love to make an Irish connection
Thanks again.
Anne Sherrard
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
sherrard@melbpc.org.au
20 May 1999
Young Australian Murnane Descendants Sound Off!
Our names are Nikki Hannan (previously Nikki Hamer) born April 4, 1975, and Zak William Hamer born September 12, 1980. We were somewhat dismayed that, as members of the seventh generation of descendants of William Murnane and Ellen Keogh, we were omitted from the your web page. It may interest you to know that Margaret Pobjoy has changed her name to Meg Hannan subsequent to her divorce from Herman Hamer and that Herman Hamer has since remarried. Hoping to see our names in print!
Zak Hamer and Nikki Hamer Hannan
zakwh@eisa.net.au
20 May 1999
(Zak and Nikki,
OK, now your names are in print! I’ll forward this note to Paul Murnane in Sydney, who is our Australian Murnane connection. It is possible that Paul and other researchers did not have your names at the time they were compiling family data. For genealogical research, it is much more important to know who was born in 1875 and 1880, than in 1975 and 1980! But that doesn’t mean you aren’t important to us! I should also caution you and other researchers that some families don’t like the names of younger people included on genealogical lists published on the Internet. We try to be very careful.
-- Ed Murnane)
Suggestions (or Help) Needed From Web Pros!
Hi Ed. Thanks for keeping me on your address list for updates. I wondered, since you are the website master, whether it would be possible to create an ancestral chart questionnaire as a way of linking those looking for the same Murnane relative? Your mail continues to grow and grow.
I often see letters from folks looking for a link and then much later see a letter from other folks looking for the same link. (I wonder if they ever make the connection.)
I am illiterate about using such a thing on the computer, but know that someone must know how to create the connection. I've been looking through your website for almost two years now and still haven't found anyone related to my Patrick Murnane. But I keep hoping.
Sally Steele
sally.steele@ashland.k12.or.us
14 May 1999
(Sally,
You flatter me by calling me the website master! My technical skills are minimal. But I do know we have some participants on this site who are very advanced and perhaps they can offer some suggestions.
I will send a request to our Murnane mailing list, which numbers about 250, asking for advice also. I am also interested in suggestions as to how we can add a search engine or process to this site so that ALL the Patrick Murnanes who are listed could be quickly located. Read the next message from Lisa, as an example. Any ideas, anyone?
-- Ed Murnane)
Another Search For Cornelius Murnane, Father of Patrick
It's been awhile since I have posted this so I guess I will try again. I am looking for Cornelius Murnane who married Margaret (?) about1858 in Ireland. They had at least one son, Patrick, who was born in September, 1859, in Ireland. He in turn married Margaret Mahar of Providence, Rhode Island, in 1883. If anyone can give help make a new connection that would be great.
Lisa
LJurgilewi@aol.com
14 May 1999
Information About Some California Murnanes
My uncle (by marriage) was a Thomas Murnane. The 1910 Census for California had the following listing:
Murnane, William J. Male, White, 32 years, born in Nevada County,
California.
Anna, Wife, 29 years, born in California.
Thomas, Son, 3 years, born in New York.
Bernese, Daughter, NR, born in California.
Anna was the former Anna Snyder. Thomas married Inez Biondi and they lived on Greewich Street in San Francisco's Marina District. Tom and Inez had one son, Tom, Jr. Tom, Jr. had a daughter named Margretta. Tom, Inez and Tom, Jr. are all deceased. Last known whereabouts of Margretta and her mother was Las Vegas, Nevada. If any of these people show up on anyone’s research, I'd appreciate a note.
Art Smith
10629@www1.utech.net
9 May 1999
Thoughts on Irish-French Murnane Connection
(Copy of message from Tim Murnen to Juliana Balint-Murnane.)
I noticed your recent exchange with Stephen Murnane on the Murnane.org website at the same time that I came across some older messages you sent back in 1997. I felt like responding.
My name is Tim Murnen, and I have been looking through the archived messages on the murnan.org website. I came across your discussion in 1997 regarding the possible source of the Irish-French Murnane connection.
You wrote:
"It would make for some really interesting research to go back beyond 1700s/1800s and look further into the origin of the name. Perhaps our French connection would point towards a remnant of the Norman conquests in Ireland/Britain?
"I cannot imagine why the Irish would have migrated to France (unless they were valued craftspeople of some kind, their services being required by various Courts of the time). If anything, it would have probably been the other way around, especially with the French (Normans) invading the Saxons. Long term invasions/occupations in the past have often led to partial assimilation and absorption of the language/culture of the invaders. The Norman invasion certainly left its mark on the English language as we know it, with many words being similar or identical to French words." (End of your quote)
I have been reading Moody and Martin's "The Course of Irish History," a reputable textbook on Irish history, and although I don't have the book in front of me, and can't quote specific sections, it does offer some insight into your areas of interest. When I have it in front of me I'll look up some items in specific chapters. For now, I'll offer you my thoughts on the Irish French Murnane connection, based on my research and reading.
Most likely, from everything I have read about the name Murnane and its origins, it is Norman, or at least Norman-Welsh. That means that our ancestors would have come from France in the 1100s or so and settled in the south--Munster. (I have noted, for example, that there are several Maurice Murnanes in the lists of names I have seen for County Cork. Maurice is pure French; what would it be doing in County Cork without some kind of connection? I'm also wondering if the very Irish name "Dennis" isn't a borrowing from the French "Denis." This is pure speculation, but I HAVE seen several Irishmen who spell their name with only one N--Denis--but pronounce it "Dennis.")
The Moody and Martin text outlines several waves of oppression from the Tudor monarchy--King Henry the 8th through Queen Elizabeth and beyond--where Catholics were oppressed, suppressed, repressed, etc. Also, Cromwell was as brutal if not moreso. Anyway, during this time period from roughly 1500 through 1700, those who outwardly opposed the Protestant Tudor monarchy were dealt with severely (killed) and those who remained neutral were given the option to leave Ireland for the continent. Those most outwardly opposed to the monarchy where mostly the members of the ancient celtic clans--O'Briens and MacCarthys and O'Connors and O'Neills--you get the idea, and those who remained more neutral were those with Norman roots. If the Normanic (sorry for my cheap coining of the word) took up the offer to leave, they mostly fled to France and Spain. Moody and Martin document a long and involved connection between Ireland and France, right through the time period of the American and French revolutions, for instance. It's not too surprising when we realize they shared a common enemy--England.
It is my guess that the Irish-French connection in the Murnane name might go back as far as the 15 or 1600s. I have no documentation of Murnanes who left for France during this time period, but that would be the angle I would take if I were to pursue it further.
My apologies for emailing you out of the blue with this bulletin board conversation that is now two years old, but you are one of the first I have seen through the murnane.org website who is interested in some of the really old history of Ireland. I have found that going to books like "The Course of Irish History" have put a great deal of my family research into perspective. I initially learned about the potato famine; its impact on my family was enormous. But going back further has given me a more "nuanced" perspective on what it means to be Irish. A very complicated land, and a very complicated history, which makes us all a very complex people.
By the way, I am a Murnane by way of spelling and pronunciation changes. I have a more detailed telling of our family history at my own website. The web address is noted below.
Good luck with your research. Try a book such as "The Course of Irish History." Let me know what you folks find as you research this more. Also let me know if I should send this quickie history lesson to Ed Murnane at the website, or if this might be too boring, or overkill, or whatever. On second thought, I'll send it to Ed and let him decide. Others who are more knowledgeable than myself might want to get in on this conversation. Probing the French Connection seems long overdue.
Timothy J. Murnen
tmurnen@umich.edu
Murnen Website at: http://www.umich.edu/~tmurnen
April 30, 1999
(Tim,
Your very valuable contribution is really welcomed; I hope some of our researchers read it
carefully, and participate in the discussion and further research. Thanks much.
-- Ed Murnane)
Murnanes in Philadelphia; Any Connections?
Thanks for the Murnane website - we really like it!
We are looking for information on our great-great grandfather. What we know is that our
grandfather, Albert Patterson Murnane, was born in Philadelphia on November 7, 1882.
Our grandfather changed his name to
Allan Louis (he was involved in the theatre in New York).
We think his father's name was Thomas Murnane and his mother was Emma Hamm. We think that Thomas Murnane was a junior, born around 1857, also in Philadelphia. We think that he died shortly after our grandfather was born, around 1886.
His father was also Thomas Murnane who was married to Elizabeth. Their other children were Robert, Kate, Annie, and Mary. We think, according to Philadelphia census information, he was a printer. We think he was born around 1822 in Ireland and died around 1873 or 1874 in Philadelphia.
Any information/connections would be great!
Mary Catherine Murnane and Margaret Anne Murnane-Grimes
jgrimes@indy.net
April 29, 1999
More Information From Richard Murnane In New York
Hello again. When I wrote in December (1998), I mentioned I would send more information about my family. We live in Long Island, New York.
It took some time but I'm finally getting back to you. My family is from the Queens/Long Island area of New York. My father, Gerald, is one of nine Murnane's born in Flushing Queens. His father's family is from the area. (I will have to ask my Aunt (Evelyn Spratt) more. She is actually pretty active in genealogy on her mothers side of the family, which is Kingsley from Massachusetts. I am one of four children and here is a quick background on us:
The oldest, Michelle Rose Murnane Izzo, age 29, married to James Izzo. They have two young boys (ages one and three) with a third child on the way. Michelle is a teacher on leave for the Friends Academy School in Locust Valley, NY. Her nterests include Crafts.
Gary Matthew Murnane, age 27, is single. He is working for the Local III Electricians Union in New York City. Gary is also finishing up his college degree in electronics. His interests include fishing.
I’m Richard Patrick Murnane, age 26, and single. I work for a telecommunications firm in downtown New York City as a computer programmer. I received my B.S. from Salisbury State University of Maryland and I take continuing education courses at NYU. My interests include sailing.
Krystle Gayle Murnane, age 16, is attending high school in Babylon, NY. Her interests include art and stained glass.
Well I hope that I didn't bore you all to death. As a side, I was proud to march in this years Saint Patrick's Day parade with an old employer (we marched with Quinipiac College from Connecticut).
Richard Patrick Murnane
murnane@cs.com
April 29, 1999
Questions About France-England-Ireland-Australia Links
(Note: These are messages exchanged between Stephen Murnane and Juliana Balint Murnane, who has communicated with the Bulletin Board in the past. They were shared courtesy of Paul Murnane in Sydney, Australia.)
My dad, Clifford Murnane, found that his G-G-G grandfather Michael Murnane moved from France to England around 1800. We are trying to make connection from Ireland to France and England. Any information would be appreciated. We also noted that you are talking to a Peter Murnane. We think he might be our cousin. He used to live in Simi Valley, California.
stephen murnane
s_murnane@hotmail.com
April 16, 1999
Hi Stephen,
I assume you saw my post on the Murnane family tree site. If not, here's their address, I think you'll find it quite interesting. http://www.murnane.org
The way I know about the "French connection" is through my husband's grand-father, James Trevor Murnane (now deceased). He was born here but said that his family was originally from France. I had a look at the Murnane site and e-mailed a couple of very helpful people. However, all they have at this stage is some great material on the Murnanes in Ireland and the US, but no trace of a tie between France & Ireland, France & US or France & Australia (where I am). I had just about given up...until your e-mail arrived! I am not going mad after all!
I don't recall e-mailing a Peter Murnane...it was more likely Paul Murnane, the gentleman in Sydney who has researched the Australian "branch". If I find out more about the "French connection" I will certainly let you know.
Juliana Balint-Murnane
balintj@tenix.com
April 16, 1999
More About Murnans of South Dakota
My Great-grandmother was Catherine Murnan Cooney Stanage from the Dakota Territory. My grandfather, Rob Stanage, moved south approximately 1910 to assist the family of Col. Murnan (first name escapes me) after the death of Col. Murnan.
Col. Murnan had served in the Union army and married Miss Mae Shelby of Shelby, Mississippi after the war. According to some letters I have, he was not well received in the post-civil war South. They had about four daughters and one son, my grandfather's cousins, none of whom ever married or had children.
Apparently, that was the custom during that era, for a family to send one of its sons to another segment of the family lacking in a male head of household. He (Rob Stanage) was a young man and he returned to South Dakota to claim his bride, my grandmother, Erma Howland, of Lead, South Dakota.
My grandparents had two daughters, my mother, Charlotte Stanage Byrd Grider, and her sister, Lyle Stanage Soyars, now both deceased. My brother and I, the only living members of the subsequent generation, both live in Texas now.
Peggy Byrd Barnes
cleo227997@aol.com
April 12, 1999
Connecticut Murnane Offspring Starting Search
I'm a Murnane offspring just starting a search of my Murnane roots. Your web page and name caught my attention because my beloved uncle was Ed Murnane (Edward Justin Murnane). My mother was a Murnane (Eleanor/Helen). Her father was Dennis Francis Murnane (December 31, 1867 – June 8, 1938). His father was James A. Murnane (died before July, 1912).
They were all from the Waterbury, Connecticut area. I'm not really seeking information - I have a lot of work to do in Waterbury before I search elsewhere. I just wanted to make a connection with you. Thanks for being on the web!
Martha Murphy
donald.l.murphy@snet.net
April 12, 1999
Info on Ellen Murnane of Limerick, for Welsh Researcher?
I have an Ellen Murnane in my tree. She married a George Peagum and they had a daughter Ellen Peagum who was baptized at St John's Church in Limerick on February 2, 1838. That is all the information I have on the Murnane's. Ellen Peagum married a James Neville on April 24, 1860 at St. Mary's church, again in Limerick. They had six children, all baptized at St John's church in Limerick. One child, Denis Neville, is my mother's grandfather. Hope this is of any help to anyone
My mother married a Welshman, and had three children, all of us living in Barry, South Wales.
Byron Lewis
byron@review.freeserve.co.uk
April 5, 1999
Aussie ‘Kinda’ Murnane Looking for Limerick Connections
Boy am I glad to meet you! I'm a kinda Murnane - my mother was a Rowan, and they were married into the Murnanes, and quite a close family.
I have Winifred Murnane, born in 1861 in Warnambool, Victoria, Australia, and died in 1952 in Warnambool. She married (1890) James Rowan, who was born in 1846 in Darlington, Victoria. He died in 1937 in Warnambool.
Winifred's father was William Murnane, who was born in 1838 in Tipperary and died in 1924 in Warnambool. His father was Cornelius Murnane, who was born in 1796 in Limerick. Cornelius's father was William Murnane.
Unfortunately I don't have Internet access. Could you advise how I could find another Murnane researcher using email? Or could this be posted on the Bulletin Board?
Angela
policy@idl.net.au
April 5, 1999
Searching For Minnesota Murnane Information
Your name was provided by the Irish Genealogical Society. I am doing research for the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We are celebrating our 150th Anniversary and I have been researching the stained glass windows. One window reads, "In Memory of William and Mary Murnane."
This is what I know so far:
William, died January 18, 1892, age 64; (cemetery records)
Mary, died March 12, 1890, age 62: (cemetery records)
The 1870 Dakota County Census shows:
Mernan (Murnane):William, 45, Ireland
Mary, 43
Ellen, 12
John, 10
Bridget, 7
John drowned August 25, 1875 in Rich Valley, Minnesota. Bridget died February 2, 1953 in Minneapolis (age 87).
If you can help, I would appreciate it.
Pat Baumgarner
524 NE 20 Avenue
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55418
612-781-6760
March 30, 1999
Murnen Family History
I have added a "Murnen Family History" page to my own web site, which can be found at: http://www.umich.edu/~tmurnen/history.html
There I've placed a fuller description of our story, although there are minor inaccuracies I will have to attend to once I double check my sources. I will post things to you as I know more, and keep my page up and running as well.
Timothy James Murnen
tmurnen@umich.edu
March 20, 1999
Tim, happy to have this link, and your participation!
Murnane - Murnen Connections Sought
I have recently been in touch with Joseph Murnane of Williamson, New York. He sent me to your website. I have inherited the family genealogy material from my Aunt Mary Alice and have only begun to scratch the surface. My great-great-grandfather Owen Murnane came over with wife Catherine Cronin in approximately 1849 or 50, and settled in Ogdensburg, New York. They had several children, one of which was John Henry Murnen (There are several documents for the children of this generation which display a number of variant spellings--Murnane, Murnan, etc.) who went west and ended up in Washington State where the family lives today (Seattle, Tacoma, Hoquiam), --the Ed Murnen clan of Hoquiam, Washington. John Henry had another brother, Timothy Murnen, my great grandfather and namesake, who ended up in Toledo, Ohio. We have quite a clan in Toledo as well.
Anyway, I thought I would make contact, and let you know I am out here, doing my own research on the Murnen(nane) story, as slow as it may be. Joseph Murnane suggested I ask you if you still have copies of the book. I'll buy one if you have a copy. Let me know how I can be of help in the search, or if you have anything that might be helpful to me.
Tim Murnen
tmurnen@umich.edu
March 19, 1999
(Tim, welcome to the group! As you'll see in the following few messages, there is a lot of interest in Murnane-Murnen connections right now. In response to you and others regarding the book, "It's Not Such A Long Way To Tipperary," it is sold out but I do a limited number of copies which we have been loaning to those who would like to read it. Let me know if you would care to see it. There is a backlog right now so it may be a month or two before we get one to you.)
And Here's Tim's Brother, Peter…
Cool site. My name is Peter Murnen and I live in St. Louis. My brother Tim told me about your site. Your site is most interesting and refers to my Aunt, Sister Mary Alice. Mary Alice used to live in Florida but lives in Toledo now. Her brother Thomas Redding Murnen is my father. I am the eldest of three boys, and have two sisters as well. We have two children named Mary Kate and Brendan. I will read more of your site when I have time, I'm really enjoying it. What a great thing to find on St. Patrick's Day! I don't know if we're related or not, but it's always good to meet a fellow Irishman. I'll tip a Guinness in your honor tonight. Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and your family.
Pete Murnen
pmurnen@primary.net
March 19, 1999
Murnane Married a Goonan
We enjoyed your webpage very much. My name is Roger Goonan. I live in New York State. My wife and I have been researching my father's family for a long time.What interests me about the information you put on the internet is the names Goonan, Sullivan, Burke.
My grandfather, William Francis Goonan, was born in America on 9/11/1882. His birth certificate shows that his father was a William Goonan, born in Ireland and his mother an Annie Burke, also born in Ireland. Family stories handed down that they were from Limerick or Galway. Also that we were related to the Sullivan family somewhere. Also the Casey family. At this point I cannot prove it.
Are you able to enlighten me at all? All our research leads into blank walls.
Roger Goonan
goonan@frontiernet.net
March 19, 1999
Parish of Emly, Tipperary, Sends Greetings
Dear Friends,
I would like to draw your attention to our new Parish website. At the moment it is available on the Alta Vista server. Soon I hope it will be featured on most of the servers. The title of the website is 'Welcome to the Parish of Emly.' We are featuring the history of Emly, happenings in the parish, a news section and something for those interested in their roots. I hope it will serve a purpose for people tracing roots. Hopefully, it will be improving as we go along. I hope you will enjoy our new site. http://homepage.tinet.ie/~rochford
Best Regards,
Seamus Rochford (parish priest)
Emly@tinet.ie
March 19, 1999
Minnesota Murnanes Plan Ireland Trip
Thank you for your good looking web site and all the information. My wife and I are going to Ireland late March, and in this short time before leaving I wondered if we could get a little info on where we might see a few relatives or their pub or their business (not to impose at the last minute on anyone's personal life)?
I am Robert Joseph Murnane, born to Eugene Robert Murnane and Margaret
Ruth Hinderer in St Paul, MN in 1941. My father was one of three sons (the others were John Pershing Murnane and Thomas Murnane); my father was born October 18, 1917.
His parents were Eugene Leonard Murnane and Marie Antoinette Patten Murnane; Eugene Leonard was one of 13 children; he was born in St Paul, we think on December 5, 1891. Eugene Leonard was born to Michael Richard Murnane (born in St Paul December 23, 1854 and died there August 12, 1922 ) and Winnifred Wenger Murnane (born February 28,1857 in Cincinnati, Ohio, and died on June 8, 1922 in St Paul.) The parents of Michael R Murnane were Patrick Murnane and Bridget Sweeney, both born in Ireland.
Do you have any idea where Patrick Murnane and or Bridget Sweeney were from in Ireland, or where any close relations of theirs might mostly be today in Ireland ?? Or could you guide me to any places I might look?
Bob Murnane
BobMurn@concentric.net
March 19, 1999
Toledo, Ohio "Murnen" Connection?
I enjoyed reading your website. I am Sarah Murnen, and am originally from Toledo, Ohio. We have traced our family history back to Timothy Murnane and Nora Sullivan who are apparently buried in Ireland. They had a son, Owen Murnane, who was born in 1829 and married Catherine Cronin born in 1830.
They left Ireland (county Cork) around 1848, went to Canada, and settled in Ogdensburg, New York. Owen's name then became Murnen. Apparently a brother came with Owen and Catherine and he setttled in Plattsburgh, New York. His name was still Murnane. I was hoping to find reference to them on your website. Just so you know the connection, Owen was my great-great-grandfather. He and Catherine had 9 children including my great-grandfather, Timothy Murnen, who settled in Toledo, Ohio. Timothy had three sons including my grandfather George. George had 5 children, one was my father John Timothy. I am a psychology professor at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. My second cousin, Tim Murnen is a Ph.D student at the University of Michigan, and we have been in contact to try to put together what we know. I am hoping to find our more from the Plattsburg Murnanes. Thanks!
Sarah K. Murnen
Murnen@Kenyon.Edu
March 19, 1999
Link To Thurles, Tipperary
Hello, I was wondering if you would place a link from your site to mine and I will do the same.
Thanks. http://homepage.tinet.ie/~williamhourihan
The site is about my home town, Thurles, in County Tipperary.
William Hourihan
March 19, 1999
Luke Murnane In Australia Says Hello
My name is Luke Murnane. I am 22 and live in Sydney. I am a "numerous generation" Australian with apparent links back to Ireland.
I am going to Ireland and would very much like to trace my ancestry. I once found a web page with a list of Murnane's who were deported to Australia but I failed to bookmark it. Do you have any clues at all as to who I could contact or where I should go.
All I know is that my grandfather says that we are from the bottom of Ireland which matches where the convicts came from (sent from Cork).
I think the Murnane website is fantastic. I come from the Northern New South Wales where I have only seen one other person in the phone book under Murnane that is not a relative. I am led to believe that there are far more Murnane's in Southern Australia (mostly Victoria) where the large majority of convicts were.
I have since completed university and now reside in Sydney. I see that a Murnane historian by the name of Paul at Gordon in Sydney has a lot of info. Do you know how I can contact him?
I am going to the UK for 12 months soon (hoping to spend 6 months in Dublin) and no matter what i see or do, nothing would compare as highly as being able to go back to my point of ancestry.
Even if you can't assist me, please email me back if nothing more than for the novelty value as I never spoken to another Murnane that is not a direct relative.
Luke Murnane
Luke.Murnane@bankerstrust.com.au
March 15, 1999
To All The Murnanes, Greetings From Tipperary
Could we link to your site? Our URL is http://www.iol.ie/tipp/clans.htm.
Our e-mail address is tippclan@iol.ie.
Thanks.
From The Clans Office Tipperary
tippclan@iol.ie
March 15, 1999
Hoping For Murnane-Moran Link
Visited your web site and enjoyed it very much. I was hoping that "Murnane" was part of the "Moran" family that I am researching. Great job. I hope I can put up a similar site for the "Moran's" in the future.
Joe Halt
jchalt@erols.com
March 15, 1999
Any Information On "Murion?"
In your research, have you ever run across the name Murion? Its so rare, but its what I was born with and no way to trace it. There is the name found in Australia though. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Michelle Murion Agnew
mpagnew@gte.net
March 15, 1999
Looking For Ireland-Minnesota Link For Murnans
My name is Don Cooney, and Catherine Murnan Cooney was my great-grandmother. She came from Ireland with her parents, and they settled in Brown County, Minnesota. There, about 1858-59, she married Michael Cooney, my great-grandfather. My grandfather, Will Cooney was born there in 1861, and they were in the New Ulm massacre in 1862. I don't know where the Murnans (Murnanes) or the Cooneys came from in Ireland.
Catherine's sister, Bridget, married a soldier named Stanage, and moved to the Dakota Territory, where she was the first white woman in the Territory. Her son was the first white child born in the Territory, and is enshrined in the Dakota Territorial Museum in Yankton, South Dakota for that accomplishment. Catherine moved to Yankton sometime after the massacre, and lived there the rest of her life.
I am most anxious to learn where my Murnans came from in Ireland, and it looks as though they came from the counties you show in your web site. I have been to Ireland many times, but have been unable to locate their origin, mostly because I didn't know their town, or where they were baptized. I'm also descended from Maloys and Rooneys.
I'd appreciate hearing from you, and would sure like to develop some information on where my Irish folks came from. You are to be complimented on the web site, and on the work you are doing on the family.
Best wishes,
Don Cooney, 2611 Parker, Amarillo, TX 79109-2115, Phone:(806)374-4829.
DBC2611@aol.com
March 15, 1999
Maureen Murnane of New Jersey Seeks Connections
Hello Ed Murnane. I feel odd writing that name since it was my father's name and he died many years ago. He was the eldest of four children. The other three were Margaret Murnane who never married and died in the late 1930's; a brother Nicholas who became a Conventual Franciscan and took the name Father John after his dad; and the youngest, a boy named John who also died young. Since my dad was the only one who married and I am an only child, I am the last Murnane on this little branch of the family tree.
My grandparents, John Murnane who came from New York settled in Hoboken, New Jersey, with his bride, Elizabeth Lawlor of County Laois. A sister of my grandmother also came over (Katie Lawlor McCloskey) and when she died intestate in the 1960's, a New York lawyer gathered the names of her family and sent us all copies. At that time my priest uncle was stationed in Montreal and I was a Dominican Sister (for 30 years) living in various sectors of New Jersey. The rest of the Lawlors were scattered around Ireland.
I've been over to Ireland six or seven times. I always stop to visit with the Lawlor branch of my family and have uncovered wonderful Irish relatives who have warmly welcomed me to their hearths and hearts. My uncle, Father John Murnane, also deceased, poked around in Cork trying to find family connections but apparently he was unable to discover anything definitive.
At the end of this semester I am going to retire from my position as a full time college professor. This will give me more time to browse around to discover what I can of my roots. When I was leafing through the latest issue of NICE ONES I happened upon your web page and thought it fortuitous. Thanks for all the information you've put up on the Murnane family.
Good to meet you Ed Murnane. I'd love to stay connected with you for the latest Murnane explorations. Who knows maybe we're long lost cousins.
Maureen Murnane
Maureen@bytheshore.com
March 15, 1999
Researching Murnan – Gannan Connection in New York
(Copy of message from Daniel Gannon to Tim Murnane.)
I noticed your last name while reading through the County Cork list. My great-grandmother was Marguerite Murnan, who was born in Ireland in 1834. She was married to my great-grandfather, Daniel Ginnan, and they lived in New York State in the 1870's and 80's. I have been unable to find out anything on my Murnan's and respectfully ask if you might be able to give me some pointers as to where to look for the Murnan - Murnane surname.
Hoping you may be of some assistance.
Danny Gannan in Charleston, SC
dannnan@hotmail.com
March 15, 1999
Hello From Another Murnane in Australia
Hi. My mother was a Murnane from New South Wales, Australia. Her grandfather, Patrick was born in 1828 in County Clare, Ireland.
Kaye McLean
kayemclean@microsoft.com
March 15, 1999
Hello From Worcester, Massachusetts Murnanes
My name is Leah Michelle Murnane (Carlson); my husband's name is John Richard Murnane. We have a son named Patrick Theodore Murnane. We live in Worcester, Massachusetts. John's family is from the Boston area and I am originally from the Minneapolis area. As a matter of fact, I have an aunt and two uncles who live in Chicago.
Would you like more info from us about the Murnane clan in the Boston area?
My father does genealogy research for my family (Carlson & Hawley). He lives in Ironwood, (Upper) Michigan. He has been doing research for many years. I would like him to eventually connect my family tree to the Murnane side as well, especially for our son, Patrick. Is this something that you can help us with too?
Leah Murnane
jmurnane@worcesteracademy.org
March 15, 1999
Information About Murnane of Lismakin, Tipperary, 1841
I have just been looking at your Murnane website. Very nice!
I have been tracing my Harrold family of County Tipperary, who were probably from the Roscrea area. I came across some Harrolds in Lismakin Townland, Bourney & Corbally parish, who may be related to mine. They have a Murnane connection.
I searched part of the parish register of Bourney & Corbally (just south of Roscrea), diocese of Killaloe, at the National Library in Dublin in 1997 [reference: film P2478, covering baptisms and marriages 1836-1866]. One of the entries I found showed a person named Murnane as a baptismal sponsor: Ellen born 17 Nov 1841, baptized 19 Nov, daughter of Patt Harold [Harrold] and Judy Sheedy of Lysmacken [sic], sponsors: John Harold and Biddy Murnane. I wasn't particularly looking for Murnane, and I had limited research time, so I didn't look for any more Murnanes at that time and can't say how many there were. I did not even read the entire film - I ran out of time.
Several of the names appearing with Murnane in the IGI listings from County Limerick (mostly from after civil registration began in 1864) on your website are names that appear frequently in the Bourney and Corbally parish register in the 1830s and 1840s (Gleeson, Burke, Leahy/Lahy). Much migration occurred during the Famine, and it is possble that some residing in Limerick City in the 1860s may have had earlier origins up the road toward Roscrea in County Tipperary.
Maybe this record will be of use to someone. I searched your website for references to Corbally, Lismakin, and surname Harrold/Harold, but did not find any.
I just wanted to alert Murnane researchers to a possible point of origin in the parish of Bourney and Corbally, Diocese of Killaloe, County Tipperary. And if anyone has any connection to Lismakin or the Harrolds, I would like to hear from them!
My Harrolds settled in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey, USA in the late 1840s/early 1850s. Don't know if there were any Murnanes in Paterson.
Geralyn Wood Barry in Oregon
gbarry@proaxis.com
March 15, 1999
Need Information About Hannah Walsh (nee Murnane) of Australia
Can anybody help me with anything on Hannah Walsh nee Murnane (daughter of John Murnane & Mary Murnane nee Ryan) died Killarney Victoria, Australia, 08/05/1912? She is buried at Tower Hill near Koroit; was married at Belfast Victoria in.1865 to Michael Walsh. Children were John, Mary, Thomas, Honora, David, Hannah (deceased) and Johannah.
Michael Walsh was my great-grandfather’s brother. He was the son of John and Honora Walsh of Tipperary. He came to Victoria on an assisted passage on the "Tornado".
Vincent Le Plastrier
rouen@powerup.com.au
March 15, 1999
Hello From Craig Murnane In Australia
Hello. My name name is Craig Murnane. I was surprised to find out that there were so many Murnanes out there . I live in Newcastle, Australia. There are about a dozen Murnane family's in this area which is a coal mining ,industrial and farming area north of Sydney.
Craig Murnane
craig@bmr.com.au
March 15, 1999
Sarah Murnane Of Dublin, Now Boston, Says Hello
Hi Ed. My name is Sarah Murnane. I checked out your web site on the recommendation of my brother Richard. I was born in Dublin, Ireland and moved to the U.S five years ago. I live in Boston now. I believe you may have been in contact with Richard ( he lives in Sydney Australia.) If I can be of any help, don't hesitate to contact me. Cheers!
Sarah Murnane
Kelticstar@aol.com
March 15, 1999
Wondering About Murnane-Murnin Connecton
Have just gotten my computer and started surfing the net and found this interesting site. My maiden name is Murnin. Have you come across that name while researching
Sally Bullock
sally.bullock@worldnet.att.net
March 15, 1999
Update on Murnanes of Charlestown and Somerville, Massachusetts
I have learned since last summer that Daniel Murnane and Ellen Barry were the parents of John Murnane who married Annie Kingston in 1895. Probably Daniel and Ellen were born around 1850 or so. Annie and John lived in Charlestown and later in Somerville, Massachusetts.
They had James J., and Daniel, that I know of. James J. (1899-1946) married Margaret Shea. Daniel (1903-1974) married Lillian Rumney. I am interested in the Kingston family primarily, but since the Murnanes and Kingstons and Spillanes were good friends when they lived in the Boston area, I am hoping that I can learn more about my Kingstons and Mahonys from researching the Murnanes. I would guess they must have come from the same area if they were good friends. That would be the Bantry area - parish of Caheragh. In particular, my Kingston-Daly branch came from Kealanine, Caheragh.
Jan Fortado
Janfortado@aol.com
March 15, 1999
Hello From Ken and Aud in New South Wales, Australia
Hello. Just enjoying your website. And starving for info on the Murnane's. Great site...About time someone made up a good Murnane archive. Thank you from the Murnane's of NSW Australia, Orange & Newcastle.
Ken & Aud Murnane
murnane@lisp.com.au
March 15, 1999
Another Search for Murnane – Cooney Connection
WOW I had no idea there were so many Murnane's in America alone! Mygreat-grandmother was Catherine Murnan, sister of Bridget. They were the daughters of John Murnane and Anne (last name unknown for now). To shortenthis up a little, Catherine was married first to a Michael Cooney (who camefrom Cork), who died in the New Ulm Massacre in Minnesota. Later the two sisters moved to Dakota Territory. Bridget had married a young Army Officer named John Stanage, and later, Catherine married his brother Charles Stanage.
One of their children, Elizabeth Stanage married a William Fahrenwald. and they were my grandparents. My nother grew up in Yankton, South Dakota, and I know we have many ties with Murnan's, Cooney's, Stanage's and Roth's.
My mother, bless her heart, ...told us many, many stories of her child hood and all of the people she knew. She could remember names and incidents right up to the time of her death....and they were fascinating stories! I wish she had live long enough to enjoy the age of the computer....she would love to find out all the information I am gleaning about her very interesting family.
Juanita Garvey
Juanitaeg@aol.com
March 15, 1998
Walnut Creek, California
Utica, New York Kelly-Murnane Connection
You have obviously been in contact with Tim Murnane. I have just been working through his work on the family and decided to search the web. I found your site. My father was Dorothy Kelly's nephew from Upstate New York. She married Theodore Murnane. My mother, Georgia Macaulay Kelly has been helping Tim with his project. All I can say is WOW!
By the way I'm from Utica.
Jim Kelly
foundry@webtv.net
December 14, 1998
New York Murnane Inquiry, via Australia
(Copy of message to Paul Murnane of Sydney, Australia.)
Paul:
I saw with great interest your Murnane family tree on the Murnane website. I have been trying to find out more about my family for some time with little luck. I notice, however, that your family tree is for William Murnane, a name that is not too common for Murnanes. My g-grandfather was a William Murnane who, at least for some time was in Brooklyn, New York. Do you have any leads? The rest of my genealogy, as I know it is:
Our side of the family has been in the New York City area for about three generations. I am George ("Peter") Murnane III, born in New York City in 1958 and have three sisters, Alexandra Murnane Hillyer (1959, and now in Atlanta, Georgia), Marianna Murnane Smith (1963, and in Long Island, NY) and Edith Murnane (1964, and in Boston, Massachusetts). We are the children of George Murnane Jr. (1917-1992) and Mary McDonnell Murnane (1929). My father was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey to George Murnane Sr. (~1890-~1965) and Edith Pinkney Murnane and lived in New Jersey for a short time before moving to Long Island. My father had one sibling, John Pinkney Murnane (1919-1942). My grandfather was born in Brooklyn, New York where his father, William, lived. My grandfather had two sisters, Florence and Jean, neither of whom ever married. I have two children, George IV (1992) and Anna-Barlow (1996).
Thanks for your help.
Peter Murnane
gmurnane@iasgroup.com
December 14, 1998
Dave Murnan (lost the "E") Checks In
I was able to find my Great-Grand Dad in the Cleveland 1870 census, and I see his name is Cornelius Murnane so I guess some where along the line we lost the "E" from our name. Also listed was his wife Mary who was born in England. Cornelius was born in Ireland I was told by my aunt in County Cork. Still on the hunt. Bye for now.
David J. Murnan
djm185@worldnet.att.net
December 14, 1998
Irish Musician Pat Marnane Writes
Hi Ed,
I read through most of your site on the web. How exciting. You mentioned Bansha House B&B, and John and Mary. My name is Pat Marnane and John is my Uncle. My dad's name is Seamus. I was delighted when I saw the large number of Murnanes in America.
I play Irish music as a profession and have the pleasure of touring America a few times a year. In the last few years I toured almost every state from Hawaii to New York and Key West to New Hampshire! Most of the people I play for are of Irish decent but I can safely say that I never met any one that claimed to be related.
I will be playing music on an Irish party Cruise out of New Orleans on Jan 30 but during the month of March we have a Tour of Musicians and Singers, all From Tipperary, that will travel many states during the month. Would it be possible for me to put a schedule on your page? Or could people Email me if they are interested?
Perhaps maybe we play for some of your clan meetings. Apart from the show I have Just mentioned, I come regularly to America to work at different musical evenings. Maybe I would be in the states during one of your Clan meetings and I would love to attend.
Do you ever come in Clans to Tipperary, Cork etc.?
If you ever do I would be honored to entertain you while you are in my home town!
Pat Marnane
Tipperary
pmarnane@tinet.ie
December 14, 1998
Hello Pat,
It is nice to hear from you. I have met your father and we have visited John and Mary at Bansha many times. In 1995, my three children and my son-in-law spent a few days at Bansha House. We try to stay there when we are in Tipp but sometimes we stay with some of the many relatives we have. My wife and I were in Ireland for two weeks in early June of this year.
We are related, although distantly. The best John and I have been able to determine is that he and I (and thus your father and I) are fourth cousins, which would make you and I fourth cousins, once removed.
I would love to learn more about your travel schedule and I will be happy to include information about it on the website. I will e-mail the latest news to our growing mailing list (several hundred, although not all related.) As you can tell from our website, there are a lot of Murnanes and Marnanes. It seems that Cork is the most popular place of origin but I will argue the case that Tipperary is the real home of the family!
There are several family gatherings in the Chicago area each year, including a family picnic on the last Sunday of July. However, if you were planning to be in the Chicago area, we could certainly arrange an event for you and your group. I have good contacts with some clubs and pubs in Chicago and might be able to find a place for you to play, although I have not tried to do that for anyone yet. I'm willing to try, however.
Please let me know what your schedule is looking like for 1999. I hope we can work something out!
Ed Murnane
Murnane-Noonan Connection
Have you noted the connection between the Murnanes on the Noonan Homepage?
http://www.orion-online.com.au/noonan/
I noticed the connection because Bridget Murnane and Philip Corboy (according to the death certificate of their son Philip Corboy) are my ggggrandparents as are Matthew Noonan and Bridget Ryan.
Jo Kelly
School of Accounting
University of Western Sydney, Nepean
Australia
jm.kelly@nepean.uws.edu.au
December 14, 1998
Hello from a Marnane
My name is Timothy James Marnane (36); I am married to Mary Loisel and have three sons Sean (13), Ryan (11), Kyle (9) and one daughter Keri (7). I live in Cranston, Rhode Island (just outside Providence). I stumbled upon your website and find it quite interesting. I'll visit again when I have more time.
Tim Marnane
tmarnane@home.com
December 14, 1998
Any Info On Helen Lebda Murnane?
I recently viewed the Murnane genealogy chart contained on Family Tree Maker's Genealogy site and learned that a Helen Lebda was married to a Thomas F. Murnane.
Would appreciate if you could share any further information that you may have about Helen Lebda Murnane. I am researching our Lebda genealogy and have discovered few references to the Lebda name outside of our own family connections.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Dr. James Lebda
spruce@vicon.net
December 14, 1998
Marnan Family of Illinois
Ed, just got your address from Dennis Day. What a wonderful surprise. My name is Howard Marnan, son of Howard Marnan Sr., grandson of James Marnan. All of us are from Chicago Heights, Illinois, the g-grandson of Daniel Marnane of Beecher, Illinois, and Bartoose, Emily, g-g-grandson of Tom Marnane and Johhanne Malone. I cannot go back further than that at this time but I am trying to connect with Thomas (1745-1793) and Ellen (d. 1821 at age of 60) Marnane who are buried in Hospital. Tom had another child, Michael, born in 1835. So add my name and if you know where I can get more information please send E-mail at hmarnan@texas.net
Howard Marnan
Hmarnan@texas.net
December 14, 1998
Murnane-Lott Inquiry From Norway
Hi,
I've just seen your Murnane web page and was very interested in the LOTT connection. Alfred Thomas LOTT (b.1847), who married Elizabeth Ann MURNANE, is related to my husband's LOTTs. Although you are evidently only interested in their descendants, I was wondering whether you could put me in touch with someone - perhaps the source of your information for this line - who may like to exchange data on the LOTT family.
Thanking you in advance.
Victoria Dunlop
Stavanger, Norway
vdunlop@online.no
December 14, 1998
Murnane Query From UK
Dear Ed,
I've been meaning to send you an e-mail for some time and now that I have just found out a bit more about my ancestry perhaps now is the right time to contact you.
My grandmother was a Murnane, Elizabeth Rachel Murnane to be precise. She was born in 1899 in Killiney, County Dublin, and died in England in 1964, the year I was born. Her father was Henry Murnane a protestant, an entrepreneur and band leader in Killiney. His father was John Murnane born in 1831 in Limerick. He was a soldier in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards. His father in turn was Matthew Murnane who must have been born circa 1800 presumably in Limerick.
Have you any idea how this family might fit into the Murnane scheme of things?
Neil C Thompson
Hythe, Kent, UK
nct@ivydene3.demon.co.uk
December 14, 1998
Murnanes From Skibereen, County Cork
As you can see we share a surname! My husbands family name is Murnane and his Grandparents came over from the Skibereen area. I am not sure if there is a connection from that branch to yours. I would like to see if there is a connection, I know my husband’s family would be very interested.
What information would I need to provide you to see if there was a link?
Tracey Murnane
TMurnane@bn.com
December 14, 1998
Tracey,
We have a lot of connections in the West Cork area. I’m sure you’ll get some response to this posting in our Bulletin Board.
Heirloom For Connecticut (1912) Murnanes?
I have an item in my possession that might be of sentimental value to any descendants of John and Mary Murnane, who would have lived in Waterbury, Connecticut, around 1912.
This John Murnane, I believe, was a son of a Mrs. James Murnane, also of Waterbury.
I'll be happy to mail the item at no charge to a descendant upon receipt of a sincere e-mail expressing interest.
The item is not of much monetary value at all, so only sincere replies, please. It does have a very sweet accent to it, and I'll describe it to a descendant. If it were my family, I'd find it very touching and nice to have.
Best regards to all you Murnane people!
Bill Gusky
KLUBO
klubo@ntplx.net
December 14, 1998
Limerick-Australia Connection
(Copy of message to Paul Murnane in Sydney.)
Hi Paul,
This is Christine Titheridge, nee Murnane. I have just found the web site absolutely FANTASTIC! I am a descendant of Jeremiah Murnane from outside the village of Caherconlish, County Limerick.
My father's name was Vernon Ambrose Murnane and his father was William {unknown} Murnane.
William married Christina Gannon. I am leaving for Ireland on the 18th of December 1998 until the 18th of January the following year. Although you say you have no contacts from this branch of the family in Ireland I am hoping that may have changed in the past few months. Any information you may have that could be of use to me during my holiday in Ireland would be MUCH appreciated. My sister Andrea is with me at the moment and we would like to say hi to our cousin Anne Pittman whose message we've just read on the internet.
Thrilled to be part of this Murnane web site.
Please reply with any comments or information you may have or require. I would be more than happy to fill in any information from this side of the family anytime.
(And a subsequent message to the website.)
Hi Ed. I have just discovered the Murnane web site through Joan Finlayson. My name is Christine Titheridge daughter of Vernon Ambrose Murnane son of William Augustine Murnane descendants from the Jeremiah tree. Last week I contacted Paul in Sydney and he encouraged me to contact you and Tony Crawford in Tasmania. On the 18th of December I am going to Ireland with my younger son Michael for four weeks and I would love to be armed with as much info as possible before my trip. We will be spending approximately two weeks in and around Dublin before spending a little time in Galway and covering as much as possible around southern Ireland.
As I have never been there before I have no concept of what is before me. I have discovered through Paul that our ancestors came from Cahirconlish so I will certainly find my way to that area. I mentioned to Paul that there are only two of my dad’s sisters still living from a family of nine children. After Christmas I will make it my business to spend some time with them and collect as much info and photos as possible. Great to connect with our Murnane family on the net and be a part of our unfolding history. Looking forward to hearing from you, Ed.
Cheers.
Christine Titheridge
Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
manager@qonline.com.au
December 14, 1998
I am a Murnane, From Staten Island, New York
My name is Christine Smith. I was just married in September and my maiden name is Murnane. I am also interested in learning more about my family tree. I was born in Staten Island, New York and I didn't see anything about the Murnanes in Staten Island, so I just wanted to let you know their are some of us out there.
Christine Smith
CSMITH@empirecorp.org
December 14, 1998
Another Troy, New York Murnane
My name is Colleen Murnane and I come from a LARGE family of Murnanes in Troy, New York, outside of Albany. We have immediate family in Troy, Syracuse, Rochester, and Plattsburgh, New York, as well as in other states. I would be interested in hearing from you on the subject. My grandmother Marion is still alive, and her husband John Murnane is recently deceased. Both were born around 1920 and had parents that lived in Troy.
Colleen Murnane
cmswtpea@earthlink.net
December 14, 1998
Researching Patrick and Eliza Murnane
We are researching these two people who are buried in St. Michael's Cemetery in Bridgeport, Connecticut around or after 1871. They are believed to have emigrated from County Cork, Ireland approximately during the years of the Irish potato famine.
If you have any information or recommendations for further research, please e-mail back to me or write to my mother,
Mrs. Eleanor Doyle
1300 Kirks Lane
Dresher, Pennsylvania 19025
Thank you for your consideration.
Greg Doyle
gregdoyle@juno.com
December 14, 1998
Minnesota Murnane Connection
My name is Tim Gallagher. My mother was Bernadette McCarty. She was born in Hastings, Minnesota. Her mother was Margaret Murphy, born on November 26,1897 and died on December 8, 1956. Her parents were John Murphy and Bridget Murnan (e). That's all I know.
Tim Gallagher
Tim.Gallagher@ci.seattle.wa.us
December 14,1998
Bansha House: The Story, Finally!
Dear Ed,
I just got an e-mail from somebody who read about my Bansha House article on your website, and didn't find it when she looked for it. That’s because the website for Horse News changes each month, featuring articles from the current issue. So the piece on Bansha House is no longer available. ALAS!
I'm sending you the text of the piece, in case anybody wants to read it. I'm not sure how you would "store" or "provide" it, but you're the Webmaster! I also emailed it to the person who contacted me.
I still haven't sent the article to the Marnanes. I'm afraid it may end up as a Christmas card!
Bonnie Slotnick
(Note: This article will also appear on the Bansha House Link on the Website.)
On horseback in Ireland
by Bonnie Slotnick
Horse News, September 1998
"Trot away now, lads!" Con Marnane’s voice came ringing down the road when the last of us had turned off the mountain trail. We were a few miles from Bansha House, a welcoming little country hotel in County Tipperary, Ireland, and headed for home.
The first time I heard Con use that phrase, I felt like a ginger-haired Irish boy out on an exercise ride with a string of fine Irish thoroughbreds. In fact, I was a middle-aged American woman on vacation, astride a chunky black Irish Cob named Nelson, after Nelson Mandela. (I later learned that the Irish use "lads" the way Americans use the word "kids"‹no specific gender is necessarily implied.)
Nelson had been mentioned when I telephoned Bansha House about coming to stay and ride for a few days. I said I hoped that they had some large ponies. I’ve happily ridden the sturdy native breeds in Wales, Scotland and England‹because big horses sometimes intimidate me, and I’m small.
But Con assured me that although their dozen or so mounts were considerably over pony size, they were all bombproof. "Oh, an hour up on the mountain with me and you’ll have your confidence back." That certainly sounded good, especially in his charming brogue.
I’d found Bansha House and Equestrian Centre in a brochure called "Equestrian Holidays Ireland". At the top of the page was a picture of Con and his wife, Teresa, in hunting pinks; below was the reassurance that "special care is taken of the nervous rider." Frommer’s Ireland tour book called Bansha House "one of the best equestrian centers in Ireland for trail rides," and heartily recommended the accommodations as well.
After landing at Shannon, I made my way to Bansha. The village itself is tiny, really just a few shops along the main road. The hotel is an elegant Georgian farmhouse on a modest scale, more like a comfortable, spacious old family home (which it was and is) than an imposing estate.
The stables, in typical Irish style, are attached to the house through a courtyard. Two sides of the stableyard are lined with huge box stalls, but the horses spend most of their time surrounding emerald pastures.
Bansha is in the foothills of the Galtees, Ireland’s highest mountain range, and we would be riding there, as well as in Bansha Forest and on the farm’s own 100 acres. In addition to the stable of saddle horses, Con Marnane breeds and trains thoroughbreds.
When I arrived, there was a field full of lively yearlings, and nearby two foals frolicked around their racemare dams. By the end of the week, I and two of my fellow Guests, Alix, an 8-year-old English girl and Liv, a12-year-old from Denmark, were convinced that we had successfully gentled the foals.
My first ride took place just a few hours after my flight touched down, and following a welcoming cup of tea. Well into the throes of jet lag, I joined Nicola, Con’s cheerful and impressively mature teenaged assistant, for an hourıs ride in the cool, misty dusk. That's when I met Nelson, and it was love at first sight. He was appealingly round and substantial, with enormous feet and a thick, shaggy mane. Although we just walked and trotted, I did indeed feel surprisingly confident. Maybe the sudden Immersion in Ireland’s beauty had altered my state of mind.
Back at the stables, I automatically reached for a broom to sweep the stableyard. There’s always a lot of cleaning and tidying to do in a stable (oh, hadn’t you noticed?) and I felt very much at home, in my usual barn "groove." The stables are run very simply, and since the horses live out, there’s little mucking out to do. So after sweeping, I sat with Nicola, playing with the resident Jack Russells and waiting for dinnertime. After a delicious, companionable meal, topped off with a slice of cake soaked in Irish whiskey, I fell into bed and made up for all my lost sleep.
The next morning we set off for a ride in the Forest. Con and Teresa led the way, with little Alix and her father, Geoff, and Liv and her mother, Lotte (who hadn’t ridden in years). We walked down the road to a shallow river; there was a bridge, but we rode through the water, letting the horses drink and splash a bit. Fifteen minutes later we turned onto a narrow trail that rose into the woods. The climb ended at a broad, inviting logging road with perfect footing. Con had me at the end of the line of riders, and stayed right in front of me so he could (at my request) keep an eye on me. After some lengthy, energetic trots, he looked over his shoulder and called, "Are you ready for a bit of a gallop, then?"
Ulp. "Okay."
Nelson, a well-upholstered sofa on the hoof, kept up nicely, his ponderous hoofbeats sounding reassuringly in my ear. But he didn’t seem ambitious to go any faster than I wanted to go. My dream horse!
At one point I moved up near the front, just behind Lotte and Liv. Suddenly I saw a brushy tree down across the trail ahead. Lotte flew over it, then Liv, then, before I had time to think, Nelson and I were airborne, taking the obstacle nicely in stride. Later in the week I would jump the same tree, this time with a bit more preparation and, I hope, style!
Three hours later, I rode Nelson through the gates at Bansha House, feeling triumphant. The rest of the day consisted of a relaxing walk to the village (where I renewed my acquaintance with the mind-boggling range of British candy bars); some photo opportunities with the foals, another great meal, and another log-like nightıs sleep.
The next dayıs ride took us up to Lake Muskry, high in the mountains. For this occasion I tried a new mount, a Dutch Warmblood mare called Hank. She must have been 17 hands, but her gentle, compliant nature suited me perfectly.
The weather was not in our favor. It wasn’t just the fine mist that the Irish call "soft" weather, but a cold drizzle that soon became a steady rain. Part way up the mountain, we sheltered briefly in a stand of evergreens before our final "assault on the summit." Once through the gate (the mountain is grazing land), Con moved us briskly along the trails, sheep tumbling out of the way as we barreled along. There were some seemingly endless gallops on the springy turf, with rain in our eyes (I swear at one point it turned to sleet) and wind in our ears. On reaching the lake, we took a quick look: The water was a steely, icy gray. We had to take Con’s word for it that on a "fine" day, there’d be a long stop here for picnicking and sunbathing. Not for us, not on this day. We turned around and raced back over the mountain, stopping again under the trees for a breather.
Heading for home after four chilly hours in the saddle, we looked forward to a warm welcome, and we weren’t disappointed. Mary Marnane, Con’s mother, who runs Bansha House with her husband, John, was in the kitchen, baking. A steaming pot of tea and a loaf of dark, spicy Guinness cake instantly appeared in front of us, and, almost as quickly, disappeared. Hot baths followed, and our jackets and gloves were hung in the airing cupboard to dry.
At dinner that night, Mary appeared during the soup course to announce that the vet had arrived to scan a mare. Did we want to come and see? We trooped off to the stables where the vet was doing his exam, shoulder-deep in the mare. The patterns on the ultrasound screen told the story: No foal this time. Out came the vet’s arm, off came the glove, and it was back to the dining room and on with dinner. Perhaps with slightly
less appetite than usual.
That evening, my post-Bansha plans changed: The friend I was to meet up with in Dublin was delayed, and I was free to stay on. Which I did. For more mountain gallops, evening strolls, and superb meals. For a visit to Tipperary Show, where we watched classes of immaculately turned-out ponies with bright satin ribbons braided into their manes. On some days I happily served as an "outrider" when a group of young campers or adult beginners was taken out for a "lesson" ride around the property. Across the fields, down the river, and finally for a trot or canter around the track, where in the early mornings exercise boys worked the young thoroughbreds. One day I took in the view from the back of Smoky, an enormous gray, and on another day, rode Leggs, a half-thoroughbred. I had my first experience of sitting in a sliver-like, nearly weightless racing saddle. And I learned, at Bansha House and elsewhere in Ireland, that you donıt have to explain to the Irish why you love horses, or why you would spend your vacation riding, of all things. It is a nation that almost universally loves and understands horses. The gleaming Irish "punt", or one-pound coin, is embossed with the image of a noble Irish horse. I keep one on my desk, to remind of me where I’ve been.
Murnane-Timms Connection In Australia
(Another note shared by Paul Murnane of Sydney.)
Dear Paul,
Thank you for your suggestion that I contact Joan Finlayson. I wrote to her and she phoned me this weekend. Joan had some wonderful information regarding the Timms Family and was able to answer lots of questions. Joan was able to tell me when Thomas Timms came to Australia and how many children he had. Two of his daughters married Murnane boys, and his son William married their sister!
How's that for happy families. I will send Joan the updated information regarding my family also. Joan's records will save me weeks of work, so I'm very grateful that you referred me to her. We are going to exchange lots of information. Joan's father was best
friends with Phonse Tobin, my husband’s uncle! Small world isn't it? She asked me if we were related to the Funeral Directors, and was delighted to hear that we were. She had some nice stories to tell about Archie and Phonse.
I'm getting a little confused by some of this. Could you send me "Family trees" for William Murnane b 1838, married Mary Ann Timms b 1/8/1842, also Patrick Joseph Murnane b 1840, married Margaret Timms b 1847, and William Timms b 4/6/1852, married Mary Murnane b 4/6/1852?
(And a subsequent message from Libby.)
Greetings.
Found your page by accident, and wow! There was my family. Have been in contact with Paul Murnane to update information. Fantastic work, I'm very impressed. My family name was Timms. Three Timms siblings married Murnanes (all cousins). It's very complicated to sort out, but we have done so.
We are so impressed, we want to do a page for the Delaney family, and maybe we could link, as Delaneys married Murnanes also. John and Bridget Delaney are to be honoured here in Melbourne, at new museum at Customs House, as a great pioneering family of western Victoria. Congratulations on a fantastic page,
Libby Tobin
Latem@bigpond.com
December 14, 1998
Comments On Murnane Webpage
Great webpage!
I am Patrick Murnane's first cousin, Matthew Keane Hurley. So you see I am not a Murnane at all but I happen to be Patrick’s favorite cousin.
Actually, Patrick's mom (Irene) and my mom (Margaret Ann) were sisters. As Patrick's mom was quite ill, Patrick and I spent a great deal of time living together as children. And to this day we remain closest of friends.
I just wanted to congratulate you on your website. It probably wouldn't be toodifficult to create one for the Hurley's and the Keanes. If you have any advice I would love to hear it.
Matt Keane Hurley
Pubwkly@aol.com
December 14, 1998
